Repressed — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ri-ˈprest/ re·pressed

Meaning & Definition of Repressed

Repressed (adjective)

  1. subjected to or marked by repression
  2. characterized by restraint

Repressed (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not excessively showy

    "a 19th-century church in the repressed style favored by the strict religious sect"

    similar: conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, restrained, sober, subdued, toned-down, understated, unflashy, unpretentious
    related: appropriate, becoming, fit, fitting, proper, suitable, modest, plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive, graceful, handsome, refined, tasteful, drab, mousy, practical, sensible
    opposite: flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank
    near: meretricious, graceless, inelegant, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, trashy, vulgar, baroque, fancy, frilly, gilded, ornate, rococo, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought

Repressed (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

    "quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order"

    similar: clamped down (on), cracked down (on), crushed, put down, quashed, quelled, silenced, slapped down, snuffed (out), squashed, squelched, subdued, suppressed, sat on
    related: doused, extinguished, put out, quenched, smothered, stifled, strangled, throttled, annihilated, decimated, demolished, desolated, destroyed, devastated, nuked, rubbed out, ruined, smashed, wasted, wrecked, exterminated, obliterated, wiped out, conquered, dominated, overcame, overpowered, overwhelmed, subjugated, vanquished
    near: abetted, aided, assisted, backed, helped, propped up, supported, fomented, incited, instigated, provoked, stirred, whipped (up), advanced, cultivated, encouraged, forwarded, fostered, furthered, nourished, nurtured, promoted

  2. to refrain from openly showing or uttering

    "you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her"

    similar: choked (back), held back, pocketed, sank, smothered, stifled, strangled, submerged, suppressed, swallowed
    related: controlled, governed, managed, bridled, checked, curbed, quashed, quelled, bottled up, contained, muffled, squelched
    near: expressed, loosed, released, took out, unleashed, vented

Related Entry: Repress (verb)

Repress is a different word from Repressed. The synonyms below are for repress, not for repressed.

  1. to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

    "quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order"

    similar: clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, quell, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress, sit on
    related: douse, extinguish, put out, quench, smother, stifle, strangle, throttle, annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck, exterminate, obliterate, wipe out, conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subjugate, vanquish
    near: abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support, foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up), advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

  2. to refrain from openly showing or uttering

    "you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her"

    similar: choke (back), hold back, pocket, sink, smother, stifle, strangle, submerge, suppress, swallow
    related: control, govern, manage, bridle, check, curb, quash, quell, bottle up, contain, muffle, squelch
    near: express, loose, release, take out, unleash, vent

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Repressed

The most common words with a similar meaning to Repressed:

conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, restrained, sober, subdued, toned-down, understated, unflashy, unpretentious, clamped down (on), cracked down (on), crushed, put down, quashed, quelled, silenced, slapped down, snuffed (out), squashed, squelched, suppressed, choked (back), held back, pocketed, sank, smothered, stifled, strangled, submerged, swallowed, sat on

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Repressed

Words with the opposite meaning of Repressed:

flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank

Related Words for Repressed

appropriate, becoming, fit, fitting, proper, suitable, modest, plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive, graceful, handsome, refined, tasteful, drab, mousy, practical, sensible, doused, extinguished, put out, quenched, throttled, annihilated, decimated, demolished

Near Antonyms of Repressed

meretricious, graceless, inelegant, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, trashy, vulgar, baroque, fancy, frilly, gilded, ornate, rococo, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought, abetted, aided, assisted, backed, helped, propped up, supported, fomented, incited, instigated, provoked, stirred, whipped (up)

Origin & Etymology of Repressed

First known use: 1606

Frequently Asked Questions about Repressed

What does "Repressed" mean?

"Repressed" means subjected to or marked by repression. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: subjected to or marked by repression. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Repressed"?

Other words for "Repressed" include conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, restrained, sober, subdued and toned-down. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Repressed" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Repressed"?

There are 91 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Repressed". Common alternatives include conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, restrained, sober, subdued, toned-down, understated and unflashy.

What is the opposite of "Repressed"?

Antonyms of "Repressed" include flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud and noisy. Near antonyms include meretricious, graceless, inelegant and tacky.

How do you use "Repressed" in a sentence?

Examples of "Repressed" in a sentence: "a 19th-century church in the repressed style favored by the strict religious sect"; "quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order"; "you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her".

Is "Repressed" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Repressed" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Repressed"?

"Repressed" is pronounced /ri-ˈprest/ and divided into syllables as re·pressed.

What is the origin of the word "Repressed"?

First known use: 1606.